Disk harrow



Patented June 5, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I DISK HARROW Lloyd W. Field, Eastend, Saskatchewan, Canada Application April 24, 1944, Serial No. 532,473

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a disk harrow for light cultivation such as weeding summer fallow.

The light disk harrow in common use comprises two sections or gangs ofdisks each connected at substantially the centre of the gang to a yoke which connects the two gangs together and connects eachone to the frame of the harrow. It is usual to arrange both sections at an angle to the direction of travel, the two forming a V or inverted V, and the disks on each section are set to face in opposite directions so that the lateral reaction of one gang in one direction is counteracted by the lateral reaction of the other gang in the opposite direction.

In another form of disk harrow known as a one-way disk harrow, the disks, which all face the same way, are secured to a single rigid shaft rigidly mounted in a frame at an angle to the direction of travel. The lateral reaction is home at the trailing end of the shaft which is thus, in effect, pushed to the side towards which the disks face, that is the leading end of the shaft.

A disadvantage of the usual type of disk harrow is that it forms ridges on the land because the disks on the two gangs face in opposite directions and a disadvantage of both of these machines is that when an obstruction is met by one disk it, in riding up over it, must pull all of the other disks out of the ground. Furthermore both machines and particularly the last described require a strength of construction in the attachment of the gang or gangs to the frame which is expensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a one-way disk harrow for light cultivation in which a disk gang is flexibly connected directly to the frame and is flexibly connected to a thrust bearing at the leading end of the frame whereby th disk gang is pulled rather than pushed and may tilt to ride over a minor obstruction without pulling the whole of the gang from the ground and without tilting the frame of the harrow.

A further object of the invention is to provide a disk gang connected as describedand comprising a plurality of sections flexibly connected to each other whereby any one section may tilt in passing over an obstruction without interfering with the other sections of the harrow.

A draw bar is connected to the frame to. one side of centre whereby the frame is drawn substantially parallel to the ground with one end leading and the other trailing, the draw bar is supported by the usual truck pivotally connected thereto, and at least one landwheel is provided to support the trailing end of th frame. Means are provided for adjusting the angle between the draw bar and the frame and in addition separate means for adjusting the angle at which the land wheels are set to the frame whereby on adjustment of the angle between the draw bar and the frame th land wheels may be adjusted tor hitch 2 and truck 3 pivotallymounted at 4.

If desired the truck may be provided in known manner with means for adjusting the height of the draw bar.

Frame 5 with its rearward extension 6 and supporting strut I at the'leading end of the frame,

is connected to the draw bar at the pivot 8 and is arranged at an angle to the direction of travel which is adjusted and maintained by chain 9 connected to the draw bar near to the tractor hitch at Ill and to the frame at] I. If desired the chain 9 may be replaced by a telescopic rod or bar having means for fixing it at anydesired total length. The disk gang comprises sections l2, l3, l4 and I5, and each section comprises a shaft l6 and disks l1 secured to the shaft to rotate with it. Section I2 is connected to section I3 by flexible chains l8 secured to eye-bolts I}! at the end of section I! and eye-bolts 20 at the proximate end of section l3. (See Figure 2.) Similarly section I3 is connected to section [4 and it in turn is connected to section I5 by correspondingfiexible chains l8 and eye-bolts i9 and 20. The whole disk gang is connected by a flexible chain 2| to a ball or roller thrust bearing '22 mounted on the rearward extension 6 of frame 5.

Near each end of each'shaft i6 is mounted a bearing 23 carrying a sleeve 24 (see Figures 2 and 3) serving as the means of attachment of the disk gang directly to the frame 5, and as the means of support for weight pans 25. Each sleeve 24 is provided with a clevis 26 adapted to receive the end or other link of chain 21. Such link is secured to the clevis by a bolt 28 and the other end of chain 21 is connected to eye-bolt 29 secured to the frame 5 so that the chain 2'l is substantially at right angles to the length of the frame 5. This is the flexible connection direct to the frame. Y

A wheelsupporting member. mounted ,at'

the trailing. end offrame i on pivot 31, and-carries at each end a wheel spindle 38 and land wheel 39. The disks face toward the leading end of the frame 5, that is towards the thrust bearing 22 and the lateral reaction which is towards the trailing end of the frame is transmitted through the flexible chains l8 and 2|, the thrust bearing 22, the frame extension, Gaand: the; frame 5 to the trailing end of the frame and the land wheels 39. preferablyflanged -.and= .weigheapproximately ;1 75 pounds, each. I

The angle atwhich the disks areI set to the direction of travel, trade-therefore,-the;angle between ;the draw .baraandrthe frame-5 determines the depth of the cutmadebythe. disks, and the angle betweenxtl'lev drawwbar, ,and I the frame .5 1 is adjusted by lengthening =or; shortening the, chain 9;by ;means vofechain-hook-40. Itis desirable that the land.whee ls r39 .,should be substantially in :line withthedraw: bar, and adjustmentof the land wheels is effected by means of the arrangement designatedsenerallyw by the,- reference-numeral 4 I. This adjusting. arrangement comprises a bar 42 pivotallyconnectedto the frame 5 r b bolt :43 and having therethroughta plurality of holes 44,.and.twoadjustingzrodsli and 46-pivotally connected respectively-t the frame K by bolt 41. and'tothe wheel supportingmember 36 by bolt 48. Each adjusting rod isprovided, at its free-endwith'ahole,of substantially the same sizeas the holes. 44,, so; that: the rods- 45 and 46 may be'connected to-thelbarfl by a bolt-Hand wing nutillathereby fixing the J-wheel supporting member. 35..in:relation:to,the frame .5 and preventing. itfrom;pivotingon pivot 31. By connecting'rod 45:to-:a hole-4 4, at or close tothe free end of =bar -42,land:connecting rod to a hole 44-.close to the, frame: 5, the forward land wheel 39 is drawn ,,towards the. f,rame, thereby decreasing .the, angle. ,between, the wheel supporting member, andthe, frame 5. By reversing this procedure the angle isincreased. Thus when it. isdesired that the disks should not out in so deeply, the chain 9,;is shortened by means of ,the

5 andrrod=46 is .connectedfarthen away from it.

Itwi1l-be seen ;that:be cause,the -gang diskis connected only: at the leadingend of the ,frame it ispullerl rather. than pushed thereby permitting the use of the flexibleconnectionll. ,Because of-this flexible connection, 2| and the chains-.21 flexibly connecting, the gang, disktdirectly .to the frame .the gang diskmay tilt unandover a minor obstruction :without liftinghthe vwhole gang disk out-of the earth and-without tiltingthe frame of the harrow. ;Furthermore, :because of the flexibleconnectionbetweenthesections, that is the chains. l8, anyone-section mayfltilt up. and over a minor obstructionrwithqut interfering with the otherv sections.

What Iv claim is:

1. r A .-disk ,harrow :compnising a supporting frame, a draw bar connected to said frame to one These land wheels are, therefore,

side of centre, means connecting the draw bar to the frame at another point on the frame, said means being of such length that the frame is drawn with one end leading and the other trailing in a horizontal plane, a rigid member extending rearwardly from the frame at the leading end, and a disk gang having the disks facing toward the leading end of the frame drawn behind the frame by means flexibly connecting one end of the disk angtosaimmember setbat .the lateral reaction of ,the disks is .borne at: the leading end of the frame, and by means flexibly connecting the disk downindependently of the frame.

2.. A disk harrow comprising a supporting frame, a draw bar connected to said frame to one xside-of centre, means connecting the draw bar to the frame at another point on the frame, said -means' being of such length that the frame is drawn ,with, one end leading, andtthe other trailing in, a horizontalplane a rigid rearwardlyrprojecting extension of ,theframe at theleading end, and, andiskgang comprising a ,plurality.of sections flexibly connected ,to 1 each other .and ,having the disks, facing toward the. leading end of the frame, said disk gang being drawnbehind the frame by means flexibly connecting .onepend of thetdiskgang-tdthev rearward extension of the frameso that the lateral reaction, is borne by such rearward extension, ,and ,the .disk gang being, also drawn by means flexibly connecting each section ofthedisk; gang directly to the frame, whereby the .diskgang may moveup and down independently of the frame.

3. A disk .harrow comprising a supporting frame, a -drawbar-connected to said frame to one .side of-centre, means connecting thedraw barto the frame; at another point on the frame, saidmeans'being; of suchlength that the frame is drawn with one end :leading and theyother trailing in a horizontal,p1ane, .a'rigid rearwardly projecting extensionv of a the frame at the leading end,;a thrust bearing carried by said extension, .a disk gang-comprising-a plurality of sections flexibly connected to-each other-.and having the diskszfacing toward the thrust bearing, said disk: gang being drawn behind the frame bymeans flexiblyconnecting one end of the gang to the thrust bearing so that thelateral reaction is borne by the thrustrbearing, and the ,idisk gang being also drawn bymeans'flexiblyconnecting each section of the disk gang directly to-the frame: whereby the disk gang may moveun and down: independently-of the frame, the reaction against movement in the .direction of travel ,being borne largely by the-flexible; connection direct to the frame and' partly by .the thrustbearmg.

l 4.; 'A disk ;,harrow comprising a supporting frame, ardraw-bar, connected to said frame near to one, end thereof,-means connecting the draw bar to, the frame at aipoint on the frame-between .thedraw bar ,and-,the remotegend of the frame,

' said meanspbeing: of, such length that the frame is drawn with the end near to the; draw bar leading and thecther trailing in a horizontal plane, a pivotally mounted truck supporting. the draw bar andatleast one pivotally mounted land wheel supportingthetrailingend of the frame, a rigid rearwardly projecting extension of the frame at the leadingend, a thrust bearing carried by said extension, -a disk, gang comprising: a: plurality of sections flexibly connected to eachother andihaving the disks, facing toward the thrust bearing.

said disk gang being drawn behind the frame by means flexibly connecting one end of the disk gang to the thrust bearing, so that the lateral reaction of the disks is carried by the thrust bearing, and the disk gang being also drawn by means,

flexibly connecting each section of the disk gang directly to the frame, whereby the disk gang may move up and down independently of the frame, the reaction against movement in the direction of travel being borne largely by the flexible connection direct to the frame, and partly by the thrust bearing.

5. A disk harrow as defined in claim 4, comprising two land wheels, means for adjusting the length of the said means connecting the draw bar to the frame to vary the angle between the draw bar and the frame, and means for adjusting the angle at which the land wheels are set to the frame whereby, on adjustment of the angle between the draw bar and the frame, the land wheels may be adjusted to be substantially parallel to the draw bar.

6. A disk harrow as defined in claim 2, in which each section is provided near each end with a bearing mounted on the shaft of the section and a sleeve carried by said bearing to rotate on it, and each section is provided with a weight pan supported on struts rigidly connected to the two sleeves of the two bearings of such section, and means connecting the box to the frame to maintain it in an upright position.

' LLOYD W. FIELD. 

